This is the discussion thread for the news: Team of the Week: Chelsea dominate as Fabregas earns first nomination of the season.

The Transfermarkt users have voted the Premier League Team of the Week! Cesc Fabregas showed he is still a force to be reckoned with as Chelsea took advantage of Manchester City’s lack of ruthlessness in front [...] [...] continue reading

This is the discussion thread for the news: Fabregas avoids punishment.

Cesc Fabregas avoided further punishment as Manchester City and Chelsea were both hit with charges following Saturday's stormy clash at the Etihad Stadium. City pair Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho were both banned, as expected, for four and three games respectively after being sent off in the ugly scenes that marred [...] [...] continue reading

This is the discussion thread for the news: Lee leaves job as England assistant as Southgate seeks own man.

Sammy Lee has left his role as England assistant as manager Gareth Southgate begins the process of building his own backroom team.Lee was drafted in as right-hand man in the Sam Allardyce regime, which lasted only one match and 67 days before a newspaper sting operation cost the latter [...] [...] continue reading

06.12.2016 - 13:00

Premier League

Cesc Fabregas avoided further punishment as Manchester City and Chelsea were both hit with charges following Saturday's stormy clash at the Etihad Stadium.
City pair Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho were both banned, as expected, for four and three games respectively after being sent off in the ugly scenes that marred the end of City's 3-1 loss to the Londoners.
The clubs collectively were also charged with failing to control their players by the Football Association on Monday following the mass brawl, which was sparked by Aguero's horror tackle on David Luiz.
But Chelsea midfielder Fabregas, who was booked for getting involved in the fracas, escaped further retrospective action for the apparent slap on Fernandinho that precipitated the Brazilian's angry reaction and subsequent red card.
That could anger City with defender John Stones having said after the game he did not think the punishments meted out at the time were "fairly balanced".
A statement from the FA read: "Chelsea's Cesc Fabregas will not face any further action in relation to an incident involving City's Fernandinho."
City and Chelsea will both have until 6pm on Thursday to respond to the general charges.
City manager Pep Guardiola was unwilling to discuss the matter in detail at a press conference to preview Tuesday's Champions League clash with Celtic.
He said: "It is a pity what happened in the last minute and of course we are going to accept the ban from the FA and we are going to work with other players for the next games."
Guardiola was also unwilling to entertain suggestions his team have a discipline problem. Including a retrospective punishment for Aguero earlier in the season, City players have effectively collected six red cards this campaign.
"We are the best team with ball possession and with most red cards," was all he would say.
Guardiola also denied he ignored his former Barcelona player Fabregas after the game.
He said: "I greeted Cesc in the changing room. I don't realise he was on the pitch."
City will also be without Fernandinho against Celtic as he serves a European suspension for his dismissal at Borussia Monchengladbach a fortnight ago.But with nothing riding on the game for either side - City are guaranteed last-16 qualification as runners-up while Celtic will finish last - rotation was always likely.
Guardiola said: "There will be changes, definitely. I am so happy to give minutes to people who deserve to play and who did not play in the last games."
The sides drew 3-3 at Celtic Park and although the Scottish champions are heading out of the competition, they still want to prove they belong at this level.
Captain Scott Brown said: "We have to learn to play in these games to be in the Champions League and now it's for us to focus on next season and show we're good enough to be back in it."

Everton winger

Everton winger Yannick Bolasie will have surgery after suffering a serious knee ligament injury in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
The summer signing from Crystal Palace looks set for a long spell on the sidelines after scans revealed he required an operation.
The club tweeted: "Yannick Bolasie to undergo knee surgery after scans confirmed a serious ligament injury against @ManUtd. Come back stronger, Yannick."

Premier League

Southampton academy graduate Sam McQueen has signed a new four-year-deal.
The 21-year-old, who made his Premier League debut in the Saints' 3-1 win over Burnley in October, will remain at the club until 2021.
"It feels really good, as you'd expect," the left-back told the club's official website. "I'm delighted to sign a new deal with the club, having been here for so long already.
"It has been years and years of hard work to get to this point. I'm really happy to be out on the pitch playing games for the first team.
"The last couple of months have been amazing for me and this new contract really just rounds that off. Now it's important that I keep working hard and make as much of an impression as I can."
Executive director of football Les Reed added: "We've been delighted with the way in which Sam has developed in recent months, becoming an important part of Claude Puel's first-team squad."
McQueen made his first-team debut for the Saints in 2014 before a loan spell at Southend during the second half of last season.

Premier League

Claude Puel has dismissed as "speculation" reports that Virgil van Dijk could join Liverpool in January.
The central defender has in recent months enhanced his reputation with the finest form of his career and is reported to be a transfer target for Jurgen Klopp, whose team's biggest weakness so far this season has been in defence.
Van Dijk's performances have been so strong he has been one of just three players to consistently remain in Puel's team despite the manager's preference to frequently rotate, but asked of the Dutchman, he responded: "It's just speculation, and I cannot participate with speculation."All the players are in the club's project, and for this season it is important to continue this work with good spirit and this is true with all the players."It is just rumour and it's not important for me."
Puel also refused to discuss Southampton's reported interest in Celtic's Moussa Dembele, but he did reveal his sympathy for the pressure Crystal Palace's Alan Pardew is under because of the wider picture surrounding Premier League managers.Southampton visit Palace in the Premier League on Saturday having impressed in defeating Everton 1-0 on Sunday and Arsenal 2-0 in the EFL Cup on Wednesday evening.
They are without the injured Matt Targett and Dusan Tadic, who when returning to training will have to wear a face mask to protect his nose, but Palace have lost their past six fixtures and former Southampton manager Pardew could lose his job if a seventh follows on Saturday."It's very difficult for all the managers, like for me also," said the Frenchman, whose assistant Eric Black was earlier cleared by the club of any wrongdoing amid allegations of corruption triggered by the Daily Telegraph's investigation into football."Every time it is strong games with possibilities to play against strong, different players and quality players."It's always difficult. It's the same for all the managers and all the clubs.
"It's important for me, for my players, to stay with a good concentration about this game because (Palace is) a good team with good players and they play at home."